As noted in the story, only the top-end, 250GB edition of the Xbox 360 currently comes with a headset -- 4GB systems don't. Historically, it was usually only the top-end configuration of the Xbox 360, with the largest hard drive at the time, that included a headset. Early on, the low-end systems didn't even have a wireless controller, opting for a wired one instead.

Since there is only one Xbox One configuration (@ $499), it was unclear which end of the spectrum the new system would emulate in this regard. Apparently they are counting on Kinect to provide default voice features instead of a headset.

At this point, I really do not see what the XBox One has to offer. Consoles may be entering a phase of stagnation and perhaps decline, squeezed between PC and mobile gaming, plus the costs of gaming, of owning a console (versus a PC GPU and buying cheaper games on Steam), and the increasingly tight DRM make this a pain in the *** to just game.

I just hope there is an option that will let me use my current headset which is just a wired over-the-ear Plantronics cellphone headset. I have used it since the original Xbox days and it works great and is way more comfortable for me to use than anything else I have tried. Plus I have never had the audio issues that many people using the official headsets often have.

Please don't get all up in arms over a single earpiece and cheap microphone. You're out $20 at the most if that was going to be your choice for game chat.

I'm actually surprised they're even selling another mono headset. How many people who want to play online actually stuck with the base headset for the 360? I was hardly disappointed when mine was inexplicably eaten by a cat (true story.)

Meh, any serious gamer who already spent $100+ on a headset does not need Microsoft to waste money by including one in the box. I am glad they thought about making an adapter to keep compatibility with existing 360 headsets though.

I'd imagine both consoles are subsidized again, and cutting out such a basic, "this might be your first upgrade" piece of hardware by integrating its functionality with the Kinect makes total sense to me. Less waste for us, less money spent for MS (I'm sure those things cost mere cents to make, but multiply that by ten or a hundred thousand), and if you really want a headset there'll be a good variety of GOOD ones available? I can't get up in arms over this...

That said, will the eventual 3rd party headsets work with Windows?That's far more important to me!

As noted in the story, only the top-end, 250GB edition of the Xbox 360 currently comes with a headset -- 4GB systems don't. Historically, it was usually only the top-end configuration of the Xbox 360, with the largest hard drive at the time, that included a headset. Early on, the low-end systems didn't even have a wireless controller, opting for a wired one instead.

Since there is only one Xbox One configuration (@ $499), it was unclear which end of the spectrum the new system would emulate in this regard. Apparently they are counting on Kinect to provide default voice features instead of a headset.

I think it was only the lowest end that didn't ever get a headset, because even when they had the Arcade, the 20/60gb Pro, and the Elite, the Arcade was the only one that didn't have a headset.

I have no problem using the Kinect as a mic if it is as good at dampening game audio as they say it is. My problem is trying to pick voice chat out of my surround sound. I don't want the game audio to drop so chat can come across audibly, and I don't want the chat to be buried.

Since they are already selling their system $100 more than the competition, you figure they wouldn't want to force consumers into paying another $10 for a dumb headset that costs them a couple bucks to make.

Since they are already selling their system $100 more than the competition, you figure they wouldn't want to force consumers into paying another $10 for a dumb headset that costs them a couple bucks to make.

Please, as a long time xbox supporter, we all know that headset will be at a minimum $29.99, if not closer to 50. (see: Wireless G or N adapter).

This is why I love Turtle Beach. I grabbed their XBA so I could just use the same bluetooth headset I use for my PS3, phone, notebook, etc with my 360. The included headset was complete garbage anyway...pretty sure the microphone on mine lasted about 10 minutes.

This doesn't surprise me much. If the Kinect is able to reach a minimally usable performance level as a microphone it'll be good enough for almost everyone except the crowd that's going to want something better than a minimalistic $10ish headset anyway.

Since they are already selling their system $100 more than the competition, you figure they wouldn't want to force consumers into paying another $10 for a dumb headset that costs them a couple bucks to make.

Please, as a long time xbox supporter, we all know that headset will be at a minimum $29.99, if not closer to 50. (see: Wireless G or N adapter).

I know the build quality of the XB1 headset is supposed to be better, but I don't even think MSFT can get away with charging much more than $10 for that thing. That is if it even comes alone. My bet is it will come with a three month Live card or something so they can charge $30+.

Color me skeptical. While I do hope the new kinect does a better job, I can share that chatting with a friend who was using his 360-kinect for voice, was awful. It filtered out _some_ of the game sounds from his end, but it picked up the voice of his kids in the room, his wife in the next room, and worst of all it picked up my voice coming out of his speakers. So I had the pleasure of hearing everything I said echoed back to me mid-sentence. I can only imagine the joy of two kinect users sharing that experience with each other.

I mean, the 360 was out for forever. Why couldn't ms have released some of the controller improvements for the 360? The internals would be the same, but there are significant improvements in build quality (ex: the battery pack placement) that would've been awesome for the 360...

I mean, the 360 was out for forever. Why couldn't ms have released some of the controller improvements for the 360? The internals would be the same, but there are significant improvements in build quality (ex: the battery pack placement) that would've been awesome for the 360...

(My response was sarcasm FYI )

They did update the 360 controller a while back while making subtle changes to the feel of it. The 'turn to lock' d-pad, updated thumbsticks, lower profile RB/LBs, etc. I imagine they didn't change the form factor because of the accessories supporting the accessories. Charging cradles, controller skins, probably some other stuff...

Also I'm sure there's some left out for 'incentive' to upgrade to the new system.

But owners can use Kinect to talk to friends—another contrast to the PS4.

Kyle, can you explain this statement? It sounds like you're saying the PS4 version of the Eye won't support voice chat, but the PS3 version does. Can you confirm they're removing this functionality in the PS4 version, or am I misreading you?

Good, I don't want/need a headset. Why would I want to pay for hardware I will never use?

Bad, I don't want/need a headset Kinect. Why would I want to pay for hardware I will never use?

Hardware that will cost me $130 (€100), probably streams direct to the NSA, and for some unfathomable reason, bricks the console while it's disconnected. Microsoft's new console is strangely reminiscent of a certain cheesy Arnie movie:

Good, I don't want/need a headset. Why would I want to pay for hardware I will never use?

Bad, I don't want/need a headset Kinect. Why would I want to pay for hardware I will never use?

Hardware that will cost me $130 (€100), probably streams direct to the NSA, and for some unfathomable reason, bricks the console while it's disconnected. Microsoft's new console is strangely reminiscent of a certain cheesy Arnie movie:

So because you don't want a Kinect you think they should include a headset? I'm not seeing your point, unless your point was to use an article about the headset to complain about the Kinect.